Apparatus for vaporizing liquids



l1, l HARDs 2,417,126

APPARATUS FOR VAPORIZING LIQUIDS Original Filed Se t. 26, 1941 VINVENTOR. John J Rbchards JTTORNEYJ Patented Mar. 11,1947

APPARATUS FOR VAPORIZING LIQUIDS John J. Richards, Brookline. Mass, assignor to Inez I. Cragin, Brookline, Mass.

Original application September 26, 1941, Serial No. 412,439. Divided a 19, 1944, Serial No. 545

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for vaporizing liquids and is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 412,439, filed September 26, 1941, which case was abandoned on December 31, 1945.

While my invention is adapted to vaporize any vaporizable liquid, it is particularly well suited for use in preparing liquid anesthetics. In accordance with my invention, 1 continuously withdraw ether from the main body thereof by means of a rapidly rotating member having upwardly and outwardly inclined elevating surfaces. The elevated liquid ether is then thrown outwardly by centrifugal force from the rapidly rotating member to be broken up into fine particles and is vaporized by a heated fluid stream.

The heated fluid stream may be heated atomized ether. Under usual conditions, a suitable heated stream may be effected by passing a stream of ether vapor over and through the electric mo- 1 tor that drives the elevating member and this has the added advantage of cooling the motor. Although, heretofore, it has been considered hazardous to pass such vapors as ether over or through a motor or to have electrical equipment of any sort in proximity to air containing ether,

nd this application July ,685

the possibility of ignition can be eliminated by ensuring that the circulating stream is a rich mixture containing insufficient oxygen to support combustion.

In the drawings 1 have shown an embodiment of my invention from which its novel features and advantages will be apparent. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partly sectioned view of apparatus in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is .a fragmentary section along the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 shows the fan and liquid elevating member.

My apparatus shown in the drawings consists of an ether container I mounted in a casing 2. A cover 3 has a flange 4 slotted to receive lugs 5 on the wall of the casing 2 to establish a bayonet lock to permit the cover 3 to be readily attached to or removed from the casing. A gasket 6 between the top of the wall of the container 1 and the cover 3 provides an air-tight seal which is maintained by the spring 2 carried by the casing 2 which engages with the bottom of the container l and forces it tightly against its gasket.

An annular housing I for the fan depends from the cover 3 and is partially closed by the fan disc le The liquid elevating member or tube 8 is connected to the disc Ill by a dishshaped extension 8 which is perforated as at 9 to provide passages through which ether is expelled below and against the lower surface of the disc Ill. The portion of the fan disc over the extension 8 is perforated as at H to permit the ether to pas up through and over the upper surface of the fan disc lfl The fan I0 and the tube 8 are connected to the shaft l5 of the motor 15 which extends downwardly through the central opening 3 in the cover 3.

The liquid elevating member has outwardly and upwardly tapering portions so that when rapidly rotated, the liquid travels upwardly there along under the influence of centrifugal force. While the construction of the elevating member depends on the nature of the liquid to be vaporized, it may be generally defined as of substantially V-shape. Its angularity and area are interrelated to effect the elevation of the liquid without causing too rapid rotation of the entire body of the liquid. In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, the elevating member is a slightly tapered tube.

As the shaft l5 rotates, the member 8 continuously raises ether from the main body of liquid in the container l and the elevated other is expelled through the perforations 9 and Il over the surfaces of the fan disc Ill and is directed forcibly by centrifugal force against the container walls to atomize the ether.

The motor l5 has a housing IS in which it is mounted to provide an annular space. The housing l 6 fits within a collar I! with which the cover 3 is formed. The cover 3 has an outlet ll threaded to receive the delivery line l2 having a control valve l3. The collar [1 has a plurality of passages I 8 to efiect communication between the annular space in the housing l6 and the interior of the fan chamber. The top of the motor housing I6 is formed with a plurality of air intakes I9.

The heat from the motor is usually suflicient to warm the vapor to the desired temperature. In order that this heat may be readily absorbed by the circulating vapor, I place in the annular space between the motor l5 and its housing 16, a baflle 2| in the form of a corrugated metal sheath (Fig. 3). The ether vapor, rising from the fan housing 1 through the passages 20 (outside of the baffle 2|) to the top of the motor housing and then is forced downwardly through the passages 20 (between the motor l5 and the bafile 2|). There are openings I6 in the top and bottom of the motor through which ether vapor also travels downwardly. The returned vapor passes through the opening 3 into the fan housing I, the heat of the motor being dissipated by the evaporation of the ether when the valve i3 is in an open position, and by the circulation of the liquid ether contacting both surfaces of the fan disc w the heat being conveyed to the reservoir ofliquid ether in the container 5. When the valve I3 is closed, evaporation of the ether nearly ceases, but the heat is distributed as above described.

The possibility of ignition of the ether vapor is avoided in my apparatus because the ether vapor within the device is always maintained with too small a proportion of oxygen to support combustion. According to my method, there is a richether mixture in the passages 25 and se about the motor, and elsewhere in the apparatus before. the motor is connected into the electric circuit. This mixture, as it rises about the motor, expels any air through the ports I?) that it does not absorb. When the motor is running with the valve I3 closed, any excess vapor escapes through the ports I9. When the valve i3 is in an open position, a small amount of air is drawn into the stream of circulating vaporas it passes the ports 19. By circulating the ether vapor over the warm motor and past the ports it, not only is the heat lost by vaporization restored, but also the air necessary for vaporization is provided and the motor is cooled. As a further safeguard, the motor is of the shaded pole, induction type, and a safety screen 22 is mounted between the'motor and the intake ports iii to provide a baliie against vapor loss and a protection in case of a break in the cord 23 outside the housin i5 and close to the ports ii Since I employ the heat developed by the operation of the motor to warm the vapor, recirculation is desirable to ensure the maintenance of a rich mixture about the motor.

As the shaft le rapidly rotates, the centrifugal force on the liquid Within the tube 8 overcomes they force of gravity and forces the liquid upwardly over the wall of the tube and through the perforations 9 and l l and is atomized by contact with the wall of the container 4. The atomized ether is rapidly vaporized by the heated stream and is thus prepared for delivery to the patient through the valve controlled delivery line 12.

The casing 2 has a window 24 to permit the liquid supply to be watched as it is necessary to maintain a suflicient supply of vapor to ensure a rich vapor mixture. Before the machine is used,

a minute or more should be allowed for the ether vapor to expel or absorb any air inside the machine. If cold, the machine may be shaken slightly to accelerate vaporization before the circuit to the motor is completed.

It will thus be appreciated that I have provided safe and eflicient means for vaporizing ether or other vaporizable liquids.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for vaporizing ether or the like, comprising a container for the ether, a closure for said container having a depending annular flange, a centrally disposed aperture, and an outlet port between said f ange and the wall of said container, a housing supported by said closure, an electric motor mounted in said housing in spaced relation to said housing, rotatable means connected to said motor through said aperture, said means comprising a member extending downwardly into the ether and having'upwardly and outwardly inclined surfaces .along which ether travels under the influence. of centrifugal force as the member rotates and a fan housed by said flange to define a fan chamber, elevatedether being delivered to said disc member and outwardly therefrom against the wall of said container and against said flange to break up the elevated ether into, fine. particles, and said closure havin passages leading from said fan chamber to said housing so that ether particles may flow upwardly into, said housing to be heated by said motor and downwardly through said aperture,

2. The apparatus of claim 1, in which a bafile REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record. in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Fleisher Sept, 1, 1931 Manning n Apr, 26, 1937 Ihler Sept. 29, 1942 Kresser Feb. 11,; 1936 Cramer et al May'3, 1921 Number 

